Fatigue and Fracture Properties of Asphalt Mixes Containing Low Content of Crumb-Rubber Modifier
This article has been corrected.
VIEW CORRECTIONPublication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 32, Issue 10
Abstract
The California Department of Transportation has proposed to add a low amount of crumb-rubber modifier into dense-graded asphalt mixes, in addition to current policies of using gap- and open-graded mixes with a high content of rubber (around 20% by weight of binder) as the surface layers. The objectives are to reduce landfill disposal of scrap tires and to obtain equal or better performance compared to current dense-graded mixes containing unmodified binders. This paper investigated a new type of rubberized dense-graded mix containing 5% and 10% of the crumb-rubber modifier. The rubberized binder and the unmodified binder were compared at the same performance grade to meet the specific climate requirement. Their corresponding mixes met the Superpave volumetric design requirements. The laboratory experiment evaluated the rubberized mix and the conventional mix in terms of fatigue and fracture properties using a flexural bending fatigue test and semicircular bending test, respectively. A long-term oven-aging protocol and the uniaxial thermal stress and strain testing were used to evaluate the mix resistance to low-temperature cracking. Those laboratory test results indicated that the rubberized dense-graded mix had an extended fatigue life, higher fracture resistance, and better thermal cracking resistance than the standard dense-graded mix. Mechanistic-empirical (ME) design using the California ME design software simulated the performance of these mixes in various pavement structures and climate/traffic conditions to assess the interactions of stiffness and strain-controlled fatigue property for those mixes. The simulation results revealed that the new rubberized dense-graded mix mostly provided the same or better field performance as the conventional mix. The ME design analysis should be performed to optimize the application of those mixes in a case by case scenario.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Applied items are listed in the following: Tables 1–9 and Figs. 1–6
Acknowledgments
This paper describes research activities that were requested and sponsored by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the California Department of Resources, Recycling, and Recovery (CalRecycle). This sponsorship is gratefully acknowledged. The contents of this paper reflect the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the State of California or the Federal Highway Administration.
References
AASHTO. 2015. Standard practice for mixture conditioning of hot mix asphalt (HMA). AASHTO R 30-02. Washington, DC: AASHTO.
AASHTO. 2017. Standard method of test for determining the fatigue life of compacted asphalt mixtures subjected to repeated flexural bending. AASHTO T321. Washington, DC: AASHTO.
AASHTO. 2018. Standard method of test for determining the fracture potential of asphalt mixtures using the flexibility index test (FIT). AASHTO TP124. Washington, DC: AASHTO.
Alavi, M. Z., E. Y. Hajj, N. E. Morian, and P. E. Sebaaly. 2013. “Low temperature characterization of asphalt mixtures by measuring visco-elastic properties under thermal loading.” In Proc., 10th Int. Symp. on Cold Regions Development, 404–415. Reston, VA: ASCE. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784412978.040.
ASTM. 2019. Standard terminology relating to materials for roads and pavements. ASTM D8-18c. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
California Department of Transportation. 2015. Analysis of cost differential between asphalt containing crumb rubber and conventional asphalt for 2013. Sacramento, CA: California Dept. of Transportation.
California Department of Transportation. 2018. Section 39, asphalt concrete: Standard specifications. Sacramento, CA: California Dept. of Transportation.
Elkashef, M., M. D. Elwardany, Y. Liang, D. Jones, J. Harvey, N. D. Bolton, and J. P. Planche. 2020. “Effect of using rejuvenators on the chemical, thermal, and rheological properties of asphalt binders.” Energy Fuels 34 (2): 2152–2159. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.9b03689.
Greene, J., S. Chun, T. Nash, and B. Choubane. 2015. “Evaluation and implementation of PG 76-22 asphalt rubber binder in Florida.” Transp. Res. Rec. 2524 (1): 3–10. https://doi.org/10.3141/2524-01.
Guo, F., J. Zhang, J. Pei, B. Zhou, and Z. Hu. 2019. “Study on the mechanical properties of rubber asphalt by molecular dynamics simulation.” J. Mol. Model. 25 (12): 365. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00894-019-4250-x.
Haider, S. W., M. W. Mirza, A. K. Thottempudi, J. Bari, and G. Y. Baladi. 2011. “Characterizing temperature susceptibility of asphalt binders using activation energy for flow.” In Proc., 1st Congress of Transportation and Development Institute, 493–503. Reston, VA: ASCE. https://doi.org/10.1061/41167(398)48.
Harvey, J., and M. Bejarano. 2001. “Performance of two overlay strategies under heavy vehicle simulator trafficking.” Transp. Res. Rec. 1769 (1): 123–133. https://doi.org/10.3141/1769-15.
Harvey, J., C. Monismith, R. Horonjeff, M. Bejarano, B. W. Tsai, and V. Kannekanti. 2004. “Long-life AC pavements: A discussion of design and construction criteria based on California experience.” In Proc., Int. Symp. on Design and Construction of Long-Lasting Asphalt Pavements. Brussels, Belgium: European Asphalt Pavement Association.
Harvey, J., and L. Popescu. 2000. “Accelerated pavement testing of rutting performance of two caltrans overlay strategies.” Transp. Res. Rec. 1716 (1): 116–125. https://doi.org/10.3141/1716-14.
Hsu, T. W., S. C. Chen, and K. N. Hung. 2011. “Performance evaluation of asphalt rubber in porous asphalt-concrete mixtures.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 23 (3): 342–349. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0000181.
Jones, D., Y. Liang, and J. Harvey. 2017. Performance based specifications: Literature review on increasing crumb rubber usage by adding small amounts of crumb rubber modifier in hot mix asphalt. Davis, CA: Univ. of California Pavement Research Center.
Jones, D., Y. Liang, S. Hung, M. Z. Alavi, and B. Hofko. 2019. Development of performance-based specifications for asphalt rubber binder. Davis, CA: Univ. of California Pavement Research Center.
Kim, S., S. W. Loh, H. Zhai, and H. Bahia. 2001. “Advanced characterization of crumb rubber-modified asphalts, using protocols developed for complex binders.” Transp. Res. Rec. 1767 (1): 15–24. https://doi.org/10.3141/1767-03.
Kim, Y. R., D. N. Little, and R. L. Lytton. 2003. “Fatigue and healing characterization of asphalt mixtures.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 15 (1): 75–83. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0899-1561(2003)15:1(75).
Liang, Y., M. Z. Alavi, D. Jones, and J. T. Harvey. 2018. “Development of performance grading testing procedures for asphalt rubber binders containing large rubber particles.” In Proc., TRB Committee AFK20 Standing Committee, Presented at 97th Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board. Washington, DC: Transportation Research Board.
Liang, Y., R. Wu, J. T. Harvey, D. Jones, and M. Z. Alavi. 2019. “Investigation into the oxidative aging of asphalt binders.” Transp. Res. Rec. 2673 (6): 368–378. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198119843096.
Ma, T., H. Wang, L. He, Y. Zhao, X. Huang, and J. Chen. 2017. “Property characterization of asphalt binders and mixtures modified by different crumb rubbers.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 29 (7): 04017036. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0001890.
Mohammad, L. N., S. B. Cooper, and M. A. Elseifi. 2011. “Characterization of HMA mixtures containing high reclaimed asphalt pavement content with crumb rubber additives.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 23 (11): 1560–1568. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0000359.
Oruc, S., F. Celik, and M. V. Akpinar. 2007. “Effect of cement on emulsified asphalt mixtures.” J. Mater. Eng. Perform. 16 (5): 578–583. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-007-9095-2.
Ozer, H., I. L. Al-Qadi, J. Lambros, A. El-Khatib, P. Singhvi, and B. Doll. 2006. “Development of the fracture-based flexibility index for asphalt concrete cracking potential using modified semi-circle bending test parameters.” Constr. Build. Mater. 115 (Jul): 390–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.03.144.
Palit, S. K., K. S. Reddy, and B. B. Pandey. 2004. “Laboratory evaluation of crumb rubber modified asphalt mixes.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 16 (1): 45–53. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0899-1561(2004)16:1(45).
Pellinen, T. K., M. W. Witczak, and R. F. Bonaquist. 2004. “Asphalt mix master curve construction using sigmoidal fitting function with non-linear least squares optimization.” In Proc., 15th Engineering Mechanics Division Conf. Reston, VA: ASCE. https://doi.org/10.1061/40709(257)6.
Sabahfar, N., A. Ahmed, S. R. Aziz, and M. Hossain. 2017. “Cracking resistance evaluation of mixtures with high percentages of reclaimed asphalt pavement.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 29 (4): 06016022. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0001791.
Shatanawi, K. M., S. Biro, A. Geiger, and S. N. Amirkhanian. 2012. “Effects of furfural activated crumb rubber on the properties of rubberized asphalt.” Constr. Build. Mater. 28 (1): 96–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2011.08.041.
Shatanawi, K. M., C. C. Thodesen, and S. N. Amirkhanian. 2008. “Effects of crumb rubber variability on failure temperature of crumb rubber modified binders.” Road Mater. Pavement Des. 9 (2): 291–309. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680629.2008.9690118.
Ullidtz, P., J. Harvey, I. Basheer, D. Jones, R. Wu, J. Lea, and Q. Lu. 2010. “CalME, a mechanistic—Empirical program to analyze and design flexible pavement rehabilitation.” Transp. Res. Rec. 2153 (1): 143–152. https://doi.org/10.3141/2153-16.
Ullidtz, P., J. Harvey, B. W. Tsai, and D. Jones. 2008. “Evaluation of reflective cracking performance of AC mixes with asphalt rubber binder using HVS tests and recursive mechanistic-empirical analysis.” In Proc., 6th RILEM Int. Conf. on Cracking in Pavements, 741–749. London: Taylor & Francis.
Van Gurp, M., and J. Palmen. 1998. “Time-temperature superposition for polymeric blends.” Rheol. Bull. 67 (1): 5–8.
Wang, H., X. Liu, P. Apostolidis, and T. Scarpas. 2018. “Rheological behavior and its chemical interpretation of crumb rubber modified asphalt containing warm-mix additives.” Transp. Res. Rec. 2672 (28): 337–348. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198118781376.
Wang, H., Z. You, J. Mills-Beale, and P. Hao. 2012. “Laboratory evaluation on high-temperature viscosity and low-temperature stiffness of asphalt binder with high percent scrap tire rubber.” Constr. Build. Mater. 26 (1): 583–590. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2011.06.061.
Williams, M. L., R. F. Landel, and J. D. Ferry. 1995. “The temperature dependence of relaxation mechanisms in amorphous polymers and other glass-forming liquids.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 77 (14): 3701–3707. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja01619a008.
Wu, R., and J. Harvey. 2012. “Calibration of asphalt concrete cracking models for california mechanistic-empirical design (CalME).” In Proc., 7th Int. Conf. on Cracking in Pavements, 537–547. Delft, Netherlands: RILEM.
Wu, R., J. Harvey, and C. Monismith. 2006. “A mechanistic model for reflective cracking in AC overlays.” J. Assoc. Asphalt Paving Technol. 75: 491–534.
Xie, Z., and J. Shen. 2016. “Performance properties of rubberized stone matrix asphalt mixtures produced through different processes.” Constr. Build. Mater. 104 (Feb): 230–234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.12.063.
Zhang, H., H. Li, A. Abdelhady, N. Xie, W. Li, J. Liu, X. Liang, and B. Yang. 2020. “Fine solid wastes as a resource-conserving filler and their influence on the performance of asphalt materials.” J. Cleaner Prod. 252 (Apr): 119929. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119929.
Zhang, J., H. Tan, J. Pei, T. Qu, and W. Liu. 2019. “Evaluating crack resistance of asphalt mixture based on essential fracture energy and fracture toughness.” Int. J. Geomech. 19 (4): 06019005. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001390.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 32 • Issue 10 • October 2020
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 23, 2019
Accepted: Mar 24, 2020
Published online: Jul 22, 2020
Published in print: Oct 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Dec 22, 2020
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.